Disruptive network applications and their impact on network neutrality

Abstract

Network Neutrality principle states that in order to preserve the openness of the Internet, the end users should have equal access to all the content on the Internet, and the Internet Service Providers (ISP) should be prohibited from discriminating or blocking the content from any of the application providers. The Network Neutrality issue is important as it can have a considerable impact on the future Internet design principles and associated laws and policies. While the supporters of Network Neutrality, including the users and content providers, argue that non-blocking and non-discrimination should be prohibited by law, the opponents, including the ISPs, claim that such rules can prove to be a disincentive for them to invest in the network upgrades. In this paper, we provide a brief review of the Net Neutrality policies, focusing on the content provider discrimination. In addition we discuss some of the latest disruptive network applications being used in the Internet, such as zero rating apps, Over-the-Top applications, etc., and their impact on the Network Neutrality.